powerskipper
Well-known member
Now there are a lot of people out there with lots of experience , but would you take your hat off for, as a sign of respect. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
who commands you respect on the water!
- Thread starter powerskipper
- Start date
Solitaire
Active member
RESPECT! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Solitaire
Active member
To be serious - Peter White, who started me off in the Powerboat world. A maveric, but hell he knowes his stuff.
powerskipper
Well-known member
I met him a LBS, great guy, had a very animated chat about rough water boating.
Solitaire
Active member
Now, what would you know about that in small boats then? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
paulineb
Active member
the one with the most champagne on board !!
Nautical
Active member
I know its is fairly obvious, but the old RNLI guys that cox'd the old Watson's and Solents etc.
Naff all electronics, a very basic squint into type radar about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, radios that hardly ever worked over ten miles, a boat that handled like a pig and rolled violently in anything over a 7, and yet these guys would go out in the most horrible conditions and find their way around rocks, reefs, sand banks, narrow channels anything and in pitch black with only a compass to work with. Bear in mind some of the older ones were open cockpits and even the covered ones had no heat or even anywhere to sit.
But the best thing about them was they were totally un-affected men, no bravado, no heroics, none of the great 'I am' attitude unlike some in today's service which seems to appear more and more as 'glamourous' to Joe Public.
It has'nt descended to the level of mentality of 'traffic cops' or those fly on the wall paramedic docu TV things, Jeez some of those guys are the most 'job p-ssed' people I have ever seen, sure they save lives but jigger me don't they like telling you about it, what da ya want for doing your job? a medal?.
Hmmm, now I'll have upset someone, but I'll qualify it by saying of course that there are many/most who are just jolly good at what they do and a credit their profession be they volunteers or full time. I just hope that the present day RNLI maintains the ethos of the old boys that did a much harder job than in today's push button boats -
'humility, honour and respect for all'.
Ok I am off my hobby horse now.
Naff all electronics, a very basic squint into type radar about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, radios that hardly ever worked over ten miles, a boat that handled like a pig and rolled violently in anything over a 7, and yet these guys would go out in the most horrible conditions and find their way around rocks, reefs, sand banks, narrow channels anything and in pitch black with only a compass to work with. Bear in mind some of the older ones were open cockpits and even the covered ones had no heat or even anywhere to sit.
But the best thing about them was they were totally un-affected men, no bravado, no heroics, none of the great 'I am' attitude unlike some in today's service which seems to appear more and more as 'glamourous' to Joe Public.
It has'nt descended to the level of mentality of 'traffic cops' or those fly on the wall paramedic docu TV things, Jeez some of those guys are the most 'job p-ssed' people I have ever seen, sure they save lives but jigger me don't they like telling you about it, what da ya want for doing your job? a medal?.
Hmmm, now I'll have upset someone, but I'll qualify it by saying of course that there are many/most who are just jolly good at what they do and a credit their profession be they volunteers or full time. I just hope that the present day RNLI maintains the ethos of the old boys that did a much harder job than in today's push button boats -
'humility, honour and respect for all'.
Ok I am off my hobby horse now.
DepSol
New member
Oh now you remember his name after I had to remind you two thousand times. !!!
Lifeboat
N/A
[ QUOTE ]
I know its is fairly obvious, but the old RNLI guys that cox'd the old Watson's and Solents etc.
Naff all electronics, a very basic squint into type radar about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, radios that hardly ever worked over ten miles, a boat that handled like a pig and rolled violently in anything over a 7, and yet these guys would go out in the most horrible conditions and find their way around rocks, reefs, sand banks, narrow channels anything and in pitch black with only a compass to work with. Bear in mind some of the older ones were open cockpits and even the covered ones had no heat or even anywhere to sit.
But the best thing about them was they were totally un-affected men, no bravado, no heroics, none of the great 'I am' attitude unlike some in today's service which seems to appear more and more as 'glamourous' to Joe Public.
It has'nt descended to the level of mentality of 'traffic cops' or those fly on the wall paramedic docu TV things, Jeez some of those guys are the most 'job p-ssed' people I have ever seen, sure they save lives but jigger me don't they like telling you about it, what da ya want for doing your job? a medal?.
Hmmm, now I'll have upset someone, but I'll qualify it by saying of course that there are many/most who are just jolly good at what they do and a credit their profession be they volunteers or full time. I just hope that the present day RNLI maintains the ethos of the old boys that did a much harder job than in today's push button boats -
'humility, honour and respect for all'.
Ok I am off my hobby horse now.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would have to agree with you on that one, the only part that i would disagree with is the very end bit about..
"I just hope that the present day RNLI maintains the ethos of the old boys that did a much harder job than in today's push button boats -"
& the only (very small reason really) reason i would disagree is that even though todays lifeboats are "push-button" as you put it, as a Cox'n & crew, you still use EXACTLY the same boat skills as the boys back then did!
There are a few in todays service that just want to wear the RNLI guernseys & jackets etc, but they dont tend to last very long on station at all!
But getting back on topic.... My vote would go the same way & also towards the old lightship crews, who also worked very hard in the same conditions, to keep the sea a safe place to navigate.
I know its is fairly obvious, but the old RNLI guys that cox'd the old Watson's and Solents etc.
Naff all electronics, a very basic squint into type radar about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, radios that hardly ever worked over ten miles, a boat that handled like a pig and rolled violently in anything over a 7, and yet these guys would go out in the most horrible conditions and find their way around rocks, reefs, sand banks, narrow channels anything and in pitch black with only a compass to work with. Bear in mind some of the older ones were open cockpits and even the covered ones had no heat or even anywhere to sit.
But the best thing about them was they were totally un-affected men, no bravado, no heroics, none of the great 'I am' attitude unlike some in today's service which seems to appear more and more as 'glamourous' to Joe Public.
It has'nt descended to the level of mentality of 'traffic cops' or those fly on the wall paramedic docu TV things, Jeez some of those guys are the most 'job p-ssed' people I have ever seen, sure they save lives but jigger me don't they like telling you about it, what da ya want for doing your job? a medal?.
Hmmm, now I'll have upset someone, but I'll qualify it by saying of course that there are many/most who are just jolly good at what they do and a credit their profession be they volunteers or full time. I just hope that the present day RNLI maintains the ethos of the old boys that did a much harder job than in today's push button boats -
'humility, honour and respect for all'.
Ok I am off my hobby horse now.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would have to agree with you on that one, the only part that i would disagree with is the very end bit about..
"I just hope that the present day RNLI maintains the ethos of the old boys that did a much harder job than in today's push button boats -"
& the only (very small reason really) reason i would disagree is that even though todays lifeboats are "push-button" as you put it, as a Cox'n & crew, you still use EXACTLY the same boat skills as the boys back then did!
There are a few in todays service that just want to wear the RNLI guernseys & jackets etc, but they dont tend to last very long on station at all!
But getting back on topic.... My vote would go the same way & also towards the old lightship crews, who also worked very hard in the same conditions, to keep the sea a safe place to navigate.
Nautical
Active member
Perhaps 'Push button' is a little glib but never the less I would say it was a lot harder getting alongside a casualty in heavy weather in an open Watson or Rother than on a Severn with 2000+ hp. Just to go astern in an old Watson you had to do loads of arm twidling on the gearbox engagement wheel, the cox could'nt just push a lever he had to shout to the mechanic which way he wanted to go.
I 'd agree that seamanship will always remain the same its just the difficulties faced by the early crews in actually performing basic tasks was a lot harder and boy did you have to be tough to be in an open boat, middle of winter blowing a houlie for hours on end.
I can remember an old cox telling me that in bad weather they used to be up to their thighs in water in the cockpit nearly the whole time in the open boats and many's a time crew would get off the boat suffering from the effects of hypothermia. Not many crew suffer that now, in fact its probably the other way round especially in a Tyne the heat can be like a sauna even in winter.
I 'd agree that seamanship will always remain the same its just the difficulties faced by the early crews in actually performing basic tasks was a lot harder and boy did you have to be tough to be in an open boat, middle of winter blowing a houlie for hours on end.
I can remember an old cox telling me that in bad weather they used to be up to their thighs in water in the cockpit nearly the whole time in the open boats and many's a time crew would get off the boat suffering from the effects of hypothermia. Not many crew suffer that now, in fact its probably the other way round especially in a Tyne the heat can be like a sauna even in winter.
Lifeboat
N/A
Totally!
When you think that most of the boats then had very little in the way of shelter, for example, take a 1930's 46ft Watson... Take a look at it, start at the bows. Now what do you have? the first structure you get is the fwd survivor cabin, which is really only big enough to push about five bloke in, then just back from that on i think the port side is the radio room which is the only 100% sheltered room, as you go dwn some near verticle steps into it. The comes the main wheelhouse structure, now in here is the only space for crew & it is wide open to the elements. In there you have the sea door to the engine room, (the main source of heat was from the weyburn petrol engines), this was usaully filled with any survivors, so the crew had a very rough trip back!
Here are a few examples of the older boats:
This is a 47ft Watson taken in the late 80's,the Tyne when came into services replaced these. it's worth bareing in mind that the Tyne came into service in 82, so these boats were still in service in the 90's! The same shape as the watsons of the 30's! (more or less).
It's amazing how they used to have to work.
Anyway, sorry to all, i will get back on topic now! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Watson class:
ps.this boat is a little smaller than than the type i refer to above, it's the only good image i could find, so it has a few small differances.
When you think that most of the boats then had very little in the way of shelter, for example, take a 1930's 46ft Watson... Take a look at it, start at the bows. Now what do you have? the first structure you get is the fwd survivor cabin, which is really only big enough to push about five bloke in, then just back from that on i think the port side is the radio room which is the only 100% sheltered room, as you go dwn some near verticle steps into it. The comes the main wheelhouse structure, now in here is the only space for crew & it is wide open to the elements. In there you have the sea door to the engine room, (the main source of heat was from the weyburn petrol engines), this was usaully filled with any survivors, so the crew had a very rough trip back!
Here are a few examples of the older boats:
This is a 47ft Watson taken in the late 80's,the Tyne when came into services replaced these. it's worth bareing in mind that the Tyne came into service in 82, so these boats were still in service in the 90's! The same shape as the watsons of the 30's! (more or less).
It's amazing how they used to have to work.
Anyway, sorry to all, i will get back on topic now! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Watson class:
ps.this boat is a little smaller than than the type i refer to above, it's the only good image i could find, so it has a few small differances.
ccscott49
Active member
My brother has sailed "Swn y Mor" the ex St. Davids watson 46 (converted by him to a gaff yawl) around the world and is now in the caribean, going around (maybe) again. I can tell you they are as seaworthy now as they were when built, his is from 1935. still going strong! I have sailed in her in some very, very snotty weather, up to full storm winds and really big seas, she always instills confidence that she can handle it. I love these boats! The crews who used them for their original purpose, have nothing but respect from me, I have met some of them, including her old coxswain and numerous of her old crew.
Lifeboat
N/A
[ QUOTE ]
My brother has sailed "Swn y Mor" the ex St. Davids watson 46 (converted by him to a gaff yawl) around the world and is now in the caribean, going around (maybe) again. I can tell you they are as seaworthy now as they were when built, his is from 1935. still going strong! I have sailed in her in some very, very snotty weather, up to full storm winds and really big seas, she always instills confidence that she can handle it. I love these boats! The crews who used them for their original purpose, have nothing but respect from me, I have met some of them, including her old coxswain and numerous of her old crew.
[/ QUOTE ]
I can well believe it mate! They are STILL in services as lifeboats in some countrys in the world. The RNLI sells it's ex lifeboats to others rescue services & brazil (i think) operate some watsons still, NZ & OZ run some waveneys & watsons, iceland Aruns.
My brother has sailed "Swn y Mor" the ex St. Davids watson 46 (converted by him to a gaff yawl) around the world and is now in the caribean, going around (maybe) again. I can tell you they are as seaworthy now as they were when built, his is from 1935. still going strong! I have sailed in her in some very, very snotty weather, up to full storm winds and really big seas, she always instills confidence that she can handle it. I love these boats! The crews who used them for their original purpose, have nothing but respect from me, I have met some of them, including her old coxswain and numerous of her old crew.
[/ QUOTE ]
I can well believe it mate! They are STILL in services as lifeboats in some countrys in the world. The RNLI sells it's ex lifeboats to others rescue services & brazil (i think) operate some watsons still, NZ & OZ run some waveneys & watsons, iceland Aruns.
ccscott49
Active member
I saw two in argentina when I was there, and one in Uaraguy (sp?)